Diving mask



Aug. 8, 1939. K AsAR. 1 2,168,695

mvrus msx Filed Sept; 27, 1958 IN VEN TOR:

KUMAKI ASARI ATTORNEYS.

' closing the remn- Aug. a, i939 omen STATES DIVING max I 'Knmaki Asarl, Ebara-ku, Tokyo, Japan 1 Application September 21. was, Serial No. 231,852

3 Claims; (01:61-40) partitioned at a position corresponding to the The present invention relates to improvements in a diving mask, which consists in dividing the main body or a mask to cover the face into an upper and lower compartments by a partition, front of the upper compartment tightly with a transparent glass plate, providing an air distributing pipe therein so as to spray the air under pressure supplied from an air feed pipe, against the surface of the said glass from the perforations oi the said pipe, connectins'fiexible balance bags to the sides of the mask in such a manner that they communicate with the said upper and lower compartments respectively by means of. separate new; it communicating with the lower compartment is provided with .a normally-closed flap valve to prevent the counter-flow of the gas from the said lower compartment to the balance bags, and providing the mask as the lower end portion with a non-return valve which is normally closed, but is opened by the increased pressure in the lower compartment. One of the objects thereof is to obtain a diving mask with balance bags which makes breathing under the wa er as easy as in the air by maintaining air pressure substantially uniformly and accordingly improves the efiiciency of work and it necessary, can regulate the pressure of exhaled air by merely adjusting a non-return valve manually and also has the advantage of heaping the glass clean by sweeping it continuously with compressed air.

The other object is to provide a which can he used easily without any smll.

The accom 3 ng drawing shows an example of the manner of carrying out the present invention into practice:

Figure l is a general front view of a diving mash accordingto this invention;

e 2, a section on the lineH-M of Fig-- 49 ure 1;

- Figure 3, a section on the line III-m of Figure 2; t

Figure 4, an outer view of a non-return valve and x 5 Figure 5, a vertical sectional view of'the same. In the drawing, 8 is the main body of a mask to be fitted fast around the face. It has a piece of cloth 2 at the outside and is held in position by tightening the said cloth at the back of the head with clasped and 3'. The cloth 2 is provided at the lower part with clasps d and t with which to tighten the mask under the jaws and prevent it from going out or position by being iifted by the buoyancy.

The interior of the main body l of the mask is which contacts closely with es, of which the one diving mask midway of the nose and mouth by a partition 5 the face resiliently at the lower part of the nose to cut oil the direct flow of air between the nose and mouth. The 5 upper compartment is closed airtightat the front by a glass plate 6, and at its upper semi-circular portion has a semi-circular distributing pipe 8 with many perforations I and with its ends attached tosupporting members Band in respec 'i'o tively, the said supporting member 8 having an axial bore which communicates with the above distributing pipe, so that air may be supplied to it through a flexible air pipe 'H from the mother I ship. 16 At either side of the maskslightly under the partition 5there is a circular projection l2 to which to attach water-tight, a balance bag is consisting of a flexible rubber, enclosed by an outer cover, the said balance bag each having its inte- :9

nor communicate with the upper and lower compartments formed by the partition 6 through passageways l4 andih respectively. The passageway i5 which opens inthe lower compartment is provided with a non-return flap valve it, which is. opened when the airpressure in the balance bags overcomes the pressure in the lower compartment, but is closed when the pressure of the I air exhaled from the 'mouth becomes great, thus checking the counter-flow of carbon dioxide to the balance bags. which are connected together behind the neck by means of ciasps its and use. The mesk has at its lower end a non-retu'fi valve as indicated in Figures 4. and 5. ii is a valve casing having a num iorations ill at its periphery, and a mouth piece is formed at its upper portion opens in the lower compartment through the main body of the mask and also is tightened water-tight against the said 1 mainbody with a knurled nut 26. At the lower a part of the valve casing ii is tightened a cover nut 22 pierced with several perforations 2i and having a valve stem 23, which consists ofOellu- 1016. or the like material, inserted through its center. Between the formed at the upper portion of the said stem is attached a disc valve 26 made of rubber. A. spring 27 is mounted between the flange 25 and cover nut 22, so that the periphery of the said disc valve may always close the valve seat at the 50 lower part of the mouth piece l9.

If you dive, wearing this mask and air is supplied from the air pipe i i, the air will be supplied to the semi-circular pipe 8 from the axial bore of the supporting member 9 and be sprayed 5 'r of exhaust perg5 two flanges 2a and as against the glass plate I from the many perforations of the said pipe, thereby sweeping the surface of the said glass plate and keeping it clean,

so that no inconvenience is felt in looking at the front through it. The air then is delivered into the balance bags I! through the passageway 14 and inflates the latter until it is balanced by the pressure of water in the diving position. Subsequently, an excess of air pushes open the flap valve 16 and enters the lower compartment of the mask, where it is breathed with the mouth. The exhaled air and an excess of air (if any) push open the disc valve 28 from the mouth piece is and is discharged into the water from the exhaust perforations it or 2L when the pressure in the lower compartment is far greater, it pushes down the disc valve 26 as a whole together with the valve stem, compressing thespring 21 and discharges the-air quickly. Such action of this valve may 'be'regulated suitably by turning the,

cover nut 22 and'adjusting the spring 25;

Aocordingto the present invention, the glass plate of the mask is kept clean by the compressed air blown continuously against it, and moreover the air contained in the balance bags being balanced by the pressure of water, it is possible to breathe under the water substantially as easily as in the air. If by any chance the water pressure brought upon the non-return valve is reduced in a work which necessitates turning the face upwards, an excess of air would leak out, pushing open the valve owing to the reduced pressure, but for the balance bags. As it is, in the present invention, since the said balance bags tend to be lifted by the buoyancy, in whatever position they may be and are balanced by the water pressure in that position, there is no apprehemlon of the air leaking out. Further, if neeessary, by regulating the spring of the non-return valve simply and thus facilitating the exhaust oi the air, it is possible toprevent the exmask from the casing opening i partment, the said disc valve haled air from counter-flowing to the balance bags and mixing with fresh air.

I claim:

' l. A diving mask comprising a main body forming a mask to cover the face, a partition dividing said main body into an upper and lower compartment, a transparent glass" plate tightly closing the front of the said upper compartment, a perforated air distributing pipe therein serving to spray air under pressure supplied irom an air feed pipe against the surface of the said glass from the perforations of said air distributing pipe, flexible balance bags connected to the sides of the mask so as to communicate with the upper and lower compartments respectively by means of separate passages, a normally closed flap valve controlling the passage communicating with the lower compartment in order to prevent the counter-flow of the gas from the said lower compartment to the balance bags, and a non-return valve disposed at the lower end portion of the mask,

cover nut and continually pressed up by a'spring;v

and a mouth piece which projects through the the lower comelng adapted to cut off the communication between the said mouth piece and valve casing by its own resiliency in addition to the action of the mentioned spr ng.

3. A diving mask according to claim 1, which is provided with a piece of cloth upon the outsideandwith clasps for tightening the said cloth at the back of the head.

KUMAKI ASARI. 

